Carolina Street Serenade

This street musician has appeared in many of my paintings from South Carolina. On my final day in town he was playing in the park across the street from my hotel. I put some money in his case and did a sketch of him and took a few photos. After I printed a photo of him I saw that his shirt had a "Crosby's Seafood" insignia on it. I was meant to paint him.

Right Lane Must Turn Right

I must give my cousin Karmen credit for the photo that inspired this painting. In the past I have sent cameras to friends and family. My request was that they just fill the cameras (disposable's) up and send them back to me. This was when we used film cameras. Karmen sent me a number of images from in and around New York. I liked the signage and the street music scene.

Tired Reflection

Years ago we were tooling around San Francisco in a car and I of course was doing a little street photography from the passenger window. This guy appeared to be just getting off work. I later grabbed a shot of him at what appeared to be a bus stop. During the holidays, I found this set of pictures and decided to paint him again. The signage and reflections also presented a nice challenge.

Downtown Hopland

Great food served here especially on New Years Day on the way home from the Mendocino coast. I hope everyone has a fruitful and happy new year.

Pank Trim

This is just a random building that I took a fancy to and photographed. I made up the colors and street sign. To me this is a combination of Richmond, California and Charleston, South Carolina. I know that this building is on Cutting Ave in Richmond. However, the overall scheme reminds me of Charleston. Oh well it's just our artistic licenses on display. I'm not very good with perspective but that doesn't deter me. I am slowly getting more comfortable with structures and my own way of rendering them.

In The Shade Made

These days getting a picture downtown without people is pretty hard. During the pandemic, not so much. Downtown was literally just buildings and a few cars. I hope our attempt at returning to "normal" will be sucessful this time. For all of you visiting our city for the Rodeo, SXSW etc..stay safe, healthy and enjoy Austin.

Basil's

Room With A View

This is a painting inspired by a trip to Charleston, South Carolina. I really fell in love with the buildings and the mixture of cultures. Anyone that knows my style, knows that perspective will always be off even when I don't try. I was attracted to the decorative metal on the building and the tree.

From South Congress

This is from South Congress looking towards the Capitol. I just wanted to have fun with color and mediums. I used the blue toned paper and played with paint, markers, pens, watercolor etc.

Berlin's

This image is from Charleston, South Carolina. I was there years ago and the trip and images taken there still inspire me. I walked around a lot with my camera and sketchbooks. As usual its a place that I really need to revisit. I like painting storefronts with mannequins. The photo was taken right at dusk.

Outside Customers 2

I posted the study for this painting recently. This one just fell off my pen and brush. It was a joy to paint. I liked the body language of the figures. The young man on the corner was a fun catch. This restaurant was near my hotel.

Intersection Companions

I found this old sketch during a recent cleaning binge. I added watercolor and here we are. I think the photo that inspired this painting was taken by my cousin who lived in New York at the time. I like how we become small groups when we cross the street.

Steeple Shadows

This is my challenge for the year: to paint more structures in the urban landscape. My perspective has always been off so I will try and improve the weakness this year.

Free Entertainment

The photo that inspired this painting was taken in early two thousand. The guy in the foreground was a down and out university professor and the background person was the "King of Sixth Street". I haven't seen him in years. Rumor is, the space was purchased by an upscale restaurant that didn't want him in front of their establishment. I thought he added flavor and he didn't beg for money. He just played his instrument and sang.

Brazos Hipster Crossing

I snagged the photo that inspired this painting with my camera phone. They just had to be painted. Their body language and spacing drew me to the composition. I started with an ink drawing to which I later added watercolor.

Blight Of Condos

We are going through a lot of growth here in Austin, Texas. Condos are going up and being filled to capacity. Our city has lost a lot of its old feel. It takes longer to navigate the city these days and we sit in traffic a lot longer. I still love living here. I took a break from work on Tuesday and did this sketch standing at 11th and Guadalupe using a fountain pen on watercolor Garza Papel (paper). Daniel Smith watercolors were applied later.

At The Office

I drew these two as I was waiting in traffic in Richmond,California. These two appeared to be dealers. The guy wearing the coat I think was the mule (guy who engages in the transfer of drugs). They also could have been brothers waiting to catch the next bus to school. Anyway onward. I used the Parker fountain pen in a Beta series Stillman and Birn sketchbook. I added watercolor later.

Fulton Ave Flag

This painting is just another view of the alley way from the previous post. The first phase of this painting was an ink drawing. I then applied various layers of Daniel Smith watercolors. I tried to keep the shadows lively. Every corner of Charleston is a painting I must say. I need to visit again for some plein air work and sketching.

Southern Alleyway

This painting is an addition to my South Carolina series. Its on Fulton Ave in the downtown area. I was fascinated by the people and the buildings of the city of Charleston. A friend and I were walking back from a great dinner at the aquarium and I took the photo that inspired this picture. I used my Daniel Smith palette of watercolors. My goals were to keep the darks interesting and make the light bounce out.

Smoke Break SC

This is a small exploration study for a larger cityscape of Charleston, South Carolina. I'm exploring what I want to make the painting about so I'm playing with multiple sections of the photo. I'm naturally drawn to figures in a painting. However, when you have beautiful historic buildings added to the mix, its hard to decide what to focus on. I was drawn to the body language of these two guys in a store doorway.